Latest News From Bumper Radio

Designed by Steve Lang and Nick Lariviere, the Long-Term Quality Index aims to give the average car buyer better insight on long-term reliability when it comes time to purchase a car. By using real-world used automobile data, the buyer is provided with a way to compare different years, makes, and models based on reliability data taken from vehicles that have been traded in. The Long-Term Quality Index focuses on powertrain issues, and the distribution of automobiles by mileage.

You're able to get a better understanding of your potential automobile lifespan by taking a look at these mileage distribution chart. In these mileage charts, the blue curve with the darker background represents the average distribution of cars (across all makes and models in our database). Many models have a similar distribution of automobile, which represents a normal distribution of automobile (most cars are in the middle range of mileage, between 120,000 and 180,000 miles).

Phoenix, AZ (November 9, 2014) –– The holiday season is rapidly approaching and one Valley organization is already working to give back to the community. NARPRO (Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals) is teaming up with Packages from Home to ensure active military troops have a happy holiday season. Many active duty military personnel will not be home with family during the holidays, but Packages from Home works to provide troops serving overseas basic necessities and special treats to remind how appreciated and respected they are by their Nation at home.

Throughout all of November and December, all NARPRO shops will be supporting the troops by teaming up with Packages from Home. To participate, the community is encouraged to bring a comfort or care item to any NARPRO shop, which will then be collected and packaged off to troops in active duty. Along with these items, a coupon is available online at www.narpro.com and good for 10% off of labor for any auto repair service.

Worn tires can send a car into dangerous skids and spins on wet and icy winter roads. Checking tire pressure and tread depth monthly can help motorists keep tires in optimal condition, according to AAA.

“The two most important tire safety checks – a pressure reading and tread depth measurement – are very simple to do,” according to Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of Automotive Engineering. “If motorists spend about two minutes on each tire, they will keep their tires at peak performance.”

Monthly tire checks take two steps:

Rear-view camera systems improved rear visibility an average of 46 percent in AAA’s tests. These systems are intended to improve driver awareness of the area immediately behind the vehicle in order to reduce the instance of back-over fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires a rear-view image in all passenger vehicles beginning in 2016, with full compliance by May 2018. AAA evaluated 17 vehicles across 11 manufacturers with factory-installed and aftermarket rear-view camera systems on a variety of vehicle body styles. The increased visibility ranged from a 36 percent improvement in smaller sedans to a 75 percent improvement in hatchbacks. Large trucks and sport utility vehicles scored in the mid-range of vehicles evaluated.

No one wants to pay for unnecessary work or get overcharged! Find out how you can avoid being taken for a ride the next time you get repairs done.

Want to make your vehicle worth more when you're ready to resell? Learn AAA's 5 steps for a cleaner car!

Letting your gas tank run close to empty can put you in a dangerous situation and cause long term damage! Watch this video to learn why you should never risk running low on gas

Xander and Elizabeth talk about you, your bike and the rules of the road.

"10 and 2" is NO Longer the best way to hold a steering wheel. Learn the best way here, it may surprise you!

Roadside air – especially along busy roads and highways – contains high levels of pollen, dust, soot and smog whose harmful effects are well documented. And children, with “young lungs”, are more sensitive to the effects of air pollution than adults. So if you are taking the kids to school or soccer practice with the windows rolled up the air quality inside a car often can be worse than the air outside – especially in heavy traffic.